As policymakers prepare for major discussions about health care next year, it is important that rural communities not be left out of those conversations.

Health care obstacles for rural America are unique, and at the core of this reality is the issue of access — across the board, people living in rural America face diminishing access to health care services. This is not just a problem for rural communities, but for our health care system as a whole.

One critical link in bridging the access gap is emergency air medical transport by helicopter.Emergency air medical services are a key element of emergency response, especially for people who have limited-to-no access to trauma care facilities.